Dam construction



May 12, 1931.

J, KRAME DAM CONSTRUCTION Filed March 9, 1929 Joseph Kmcrfler INVENTOR;

May 12, 1931. J. KRAEMER DAM CONSTRUCTION Filed March 9, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill/1W Fig. 11

ifcaeph Kmcmer 4 Attorney IN N May 12, 1931-. J. KRAEMER 1,304,696

mm CONSTRUCTION Fneg r h 9. 1929 s Sheets-Sht 5 Jose h Krwmv Fig/6. INVENTOR;

"' imanner aviith water coif 1a the dam. nation, :is a rfeature to sprom'de :m'eans Patented May 12, 1931 UNITED STATES hesitant KR AGMER, or B-RNQ; :eznorresmoynxm inemi'consrrmorlon A general object iof-athre' invention isitoipro- "w wielerineans :forwondering ssuchnaaidam con- :struot'i'on Watertight regardless offithei'pres- :sume of :the water on the upstream :Iface "of the dam. i

A .zfieatulze zof zmy "invention-flies iniacconr :plishing this\object'loyimeans oft suitably :oo-n- -stnucted 'sancl :arranged which are arranged invspaced relationship 1130 provide :a sseries 'oi fiwa'tertight conrpantmentsethes oomapartments lbeizng filled .a predetermined predetermined fiheigrht.

[Another general obj eat is toi-proviile-a-c'onistnuction wherein means faresqoro-wieledufor permittingireaely inspection :oii the dam, parlzfi ticiflanly *ofirth'e interior thereo if; '=Whereby'the same may beifke'pt in "constant repair and llildfil aoionst ant acontr o1.

aOthcr objects lie :in v tprovining improved means in liking and mounting itheibase of In the case of a shallow rockifonnw-herebylea-kage :axrouncl the 'ibase may :Jote promptly lcletectet l and EbBFEHIIIGdiGd in 'lZLSlIIPP'l'BaDd IIOYGLIDZIJIIIEJI. iWhere.;the;rdck --fioundation t-is of greater adepthxthe z'foregoin'g feature is :again -.resorted 'to and in 'acldition 7 thereto; it is a feature tho mount the ?b aseiin :a pivotal or adjustable zmanner whereby the same may swing and thereby adj ustflitself under diflerent circumstances.

Another object is to provide means for draining that portion of the dam construcftion'mihich isexp o'sed to the=air.

Torthel attainment of the itoregoing *o'b- 'j'ee'ts and such '"other objects-as may herein- :atter appear or "be p'oint'ed out, my invention consists of theioonstructionand arrangement of aparts 1 as t'rl lustrated;Kin the accompanying --'l raWings,wher-ein ilFtigure J sl is a I diagrammatic :aeleva'tional across-section 'octa dam oonstruet'i'onembodying certain features ofinvention; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure'il shawing the' appl ication-iof myinvention to :a' iiiam otf-jgreateriheightg 9 lE-igure 3 isa aiew similar to Figm es 1 411'121 -QshQ'Wing the zapplication of my ts a 'lam ofastil l' greaterheight; I r

Figu-re'tbis a yieav simil ar toFignreQahoW ing the waterti-ghit :c'omp wrtments arnangefl 'within thedami; I i T Figure 5:'i'-siawziew=similar ito Eig-ureflshowing 1a imodiified arrangement oif the 4 Watertight compartments; v-Figureiti isa yiew similar to Figure'2 showingimy :inyenti'oniapplied ito a dam of somewhat differentconfiguration;

ll i-igurex'fis aoross-sectiona l' view takenssubistanitialily along" mama-7 of Figure 4;

, Fagure 8 isa cro-ssesectionalview on anion-' .zlarged 's'c ale of the to otingof :a Ham mouirted insac'eorilancefwith any invention in a shallow rock foundation; I

f.F'gurefQzisawiew.similamtoFigure -8ashowfling the applicationzofmy ii-nventi'on toa "ole eperjrodk foumlatiorr;

Figures 310 rand 1&1 are iira'gmentary horizontal cross-sectional views respeetively of two difierent configurations of the walls forming the watertightioompartments;

Figure 12 is a horizontal fragmentary =eross-s'ectionztl view/ion an enlazngedscale illustrating other teatures :oiimy; invention;

i igure Lis "a cross-sectional view taaken substantially-along the line 1-3'l3 of-'Figure Eigure 14 is a inagmentary oross+sectional View .taken inwtheesamesti'recti on;,as: Figure 7 (and illustrating a portiqnof the latter v on an enlarged scale, thisfview being taken substantially along thelineil4l4 of Figure 15; Figure 15 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 1 5-.il5 .oiEigure 14.3'and *Figure I6is' a cross-sectional plan View taken substantially along thetline -16-+16 of Figure 14.

The hollow Waierti ght c ompartments' of my present invention "may be located either entirely on the upstreamside of'the "dam,

I I the dam itself.

entirely within the material of the dam, or

partly on the upstream face and partly within the dam. The compartments are formed by a plurality of walls extending across the entire dam and arranged in spaced substantially parallel relationship. The space between each two adjacent walls constitutes a compartment within which a'predetermined height of water may be provided for.

In accordance with my invention, the number of walls provided willwary, depending upon the height of water on the upstream side of the dam. Also, the heights ofthese spaced walls are successively less in the downstreamdirection, with the one exception that the second wall is of the same height as the first wall 'andat least equal tothe height of The differences in height depend upon the particular material of which the walls are constructed and the consequent watertigh nessofsuch material. In general, one height graduation is provided for every 10-25 me- .terscof depth, of the dammed water. Also, it may be generally stated that if the number of height graduations is 'n, then the-num .ber of spaced walls is also equal to a, and the consequent number of hollow compartments formed will be n-1.

In Figure 1 I have shown a comparatively small dam designed to hold back a height of water between twenty and fifty meters. lVith such a relatively low height, two pressure graduations are suflicient. Accordingly, I

i have shown an outer wall Aand a second or inner wall B, the latter being spaced from the wall A and being of substantially the same height as the latter. WVithinv the space between the walls A and B I provide a height of water, approximately half of the total height of the dammed water. If the latter height is H, then the height of the water between the walls A and B is H c h 2 The pressure diagram for the total water pressure on the wall A is represented by the triangle (1, b, c, of height from b to '0 equal to H. Opposed to this pressure upon the wall A is a counter-pressure of the water within the watertightcompartment, and the counter-pressure is represented by the pressure I diagram e, f, c, the height f, 0 being equal to 2 By subtraction, the resultant water pressure against the wall A is represented by the figure a, e, f, b, (1..

Similarly, the pressure from the upstream :side upon the wall B is represented by the triangle 6, f, 0.v Opposed to this is the counter-pressure of the entire dam construction which is represented by the triangle t, u, v. The resultant pressure upon the wall B is represented by the figure t, y, a, u, as, the height of this last figure from u to a or from m to y being equal to h. It will be noted that the resultant pressure against the walls A and B is in neither event higher than Among the advantages which this construction attains is the fact that the leakage of water, if any, through the walls A and B and always somewhat less than H; but on the otherhand, this last or innermost wall is subject to hardly any penetration of water from the main body which is dammed.

In Figure 2, the pressure diagrams can be traced in a similar manner, this figure illustrating a' dam of somewhat higher construction wherein three pressure graduations are arranged. for. Thus, I have shown three spaced walls, instead oftwo, the walls vof Figure 2 being designated by the reference letters A, B, C. The wall B is coextensive inheight with the wall A, but the wall C is of less height. Accordingly, two hollow chambers are provided, Z between the walls A, B, and Z between the walls B, C. A height of water is provided in the space Z equal to 2/3 of the total height H, and a height of water is provided in the space Z equal to h which is 1 3 H. r a

The pressure diagrams may be traced as before. Acting upon the outer wall A is a pressure represented by the triangle a, b, c, of height equal to H. Acting against the same wall from the inside is a pressure represented bythe triangle 6, f, c, of height equal to 2/3 H. The resultant pressure upon the wall A is represented by the figure a, e, f, b, of height equal to between the, triangle t, a, 11 (which is the connter-p ressure ot the. dam itself) and the small triangle y, a, c, which is thepressure acting from the inside upon the wall C by virtue of the small height of water in the p ce Zz- In ure a dam f ti l g at h igh is shown. In this case, four spaced Walls are Provid d and designated A, B, D, thu pr eh ns h e pa es MUZZ, Z3- he esultant pressure acting upon thewall A is represented by the figure, a, e, f, b, of height equal he. a i

The resnltant pressure acting upon the wall B s i i eh dhy e fig r 9 Z o e ee aeh ieh wall. is represented by the figure a, r, s, 0,

{ erh The resultant pressure acting upon the last wall D is represented by the figure t, a, 2,3;

' In Figures 7-11, and also'in Figure '9, l haye shown the arrangement oi walls and partitions'within the spaces between the main walls hereinbefore referred to. A series of spaced vertical walls 8 divide the spaces between the walls A, B, C, etc. into vertical shafts; and a series of horizontal spaced walls o." sub-divide these vertical shafts into chambers Both the walls 8 and '0 are arranged in planes which are substantially per pendicul' ar to the 'face. of the dam, and in this way, the force of the dammed water is transmitted through the spacedfwalls A, B, C, etc; to therear walland to the dam construction proper.

Anumber of openings m are provided in certain of the wallssso. as'to establish communication in ahorizontal direction between the adjacent compartment-s. Similarly, suit able, openings at" establish communication between the yariousstories. In this way, all the compartments of one space (such as the space Z; orthe. space Z are in communication.

' Openings 0 are'provided'in all the walls s at the "base of'thefidam. The openings 0 and m" are of a sufficient size to "permit the passage'of a human being 'therethrough, and in thisway, enableworlgmen or inspectors to. examine the interior of the construction. Such workmen or inspectors may also travel ina Vertical direction by passing through the pen n s v In gure. 11 a slight modification has been shown wherein the walls and B are not eh hl y P a ther y ekihs th empartnaents above-m ntioned of substantially crescent or semicircular shapev as shown in this figure. The wall C, or the last wall of theconstruction, may in certain cases be rep d by t e am enstr e i n t e te th upstream face of the Valley. wall. As menieheel bef re, th as Wa t nly we which'supports a pressure greater than a small fraction ofthe total pressure, but such las ll: is ubje t d he 0 te whe h sulti g- Wa -e 7 P essur in l eas of upstream and inner walls is thusnever greater t an H e where ais .the number of; stages or walls. The pressure upon the inner-most wall is nevergreater than a Value represented by the prodnct of H nd n; J

n I wish to point out that the front wall A always extends at least tothe full height H of the dam, and that the second wall Bis always of the same height. S uccessively, the Walls are thenof lessiheight. Thus the third wall C is always of a height less than the height of the darn by an amount equal to i I alsowish to point out that the upper ends of the spaces Z Z etc. are closed, and this construction, in, conjunction with the wall heights referred to, is of great importance I from standpoint of safety. Thus, it the wall A should fail; or break, the. water flowing' into the space Z will not pass. any further thanthe wall B, the latter wall thereby constituting something in the nature ot a reserve orsecondary barricade. The same is true if two, walls A, B. break, each successive wall ser'vingto hold the Water from flowing through the dam. to a greater extent. The chambe'rs' Z and those. following are Pr d d h mea s. f r t bl h ng on-. munication with the. atmosphere, this being accomplished by airshafts 25 extending upwardly from the upper ends of successive spaces through the preceding space. For example, in Figure 2, suitable airshatts are providedbetween the upper end of the space Z and theatmosphere, these airshafts extendin pw dly t ro h the upper pertion of the space Z The reason why a plurality of airshafts is required, shew n F gure 7, s that h entire construction previously described is made up of sections as shown the last-men.- tioned figure, These sections are designated by the reference letters k1-7 c 5 in Figure 7, and the continuity cross the dam is estab: lished as shownin Figure 12- presently tobe deee hed-j The construction shown in Figure 6 will be clearly understandable from the foregoing description.

' In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a construction wherein the walls are partially or Wholly within the body of the dam. The pressure diagrams in such cases are substantially like those shown in Figures 1-3, with the exception that the pressure is in each case increased by that of the portions of the dam' body within which the walls are embedded. I

The foregoing calculations are of course only theoretically correct and exist when the heights of water within the spaces are properly controlled and when the height of water in the basin is of the predetermined normal value II. By virtue of possible defects in the Watertight walls, less favorable pressure conditions may sometimes exist. Thus, if the wall A were to break, the space Z would fill up to the entire height H and the pressure conditions upon the next wall B would vary. Accordingly, it is preferable to construct the wall B to withstand a pressure condition which would be represented by the figure a, e, f, 6, whose height is equal to In Figures 14, 15, and 16 I have shown the piping connections which are arranged at the base of the dam construction. These figures relate to a dam having two spaces Z Z as shown in Figure 8. In Figure 15, the left side is directed toward upstream, and the right side is directed toward the downstream side of thedam. Branching from two main conduits s and s are a pair of branchconduits .2 and 2 respectively. These conduits are used to fill thespaces Z and Z to the required levels. In addition to these conduits I provide the pipes e and 6 The former extends from the upstream side into the space I Z and at the latter end it is provided with an automatic valve 77 which opens only when the pressure in the space Z is greater than that produced by a height of of rock in a wedge-like manner, and on both sides an elastic asphaltic concrete (predominantly tar) is arranged as shown at k and is. A pair of perforated pipes h and h are embedded in the elastic concrete so that these pipes extend transversely across the entire width of the dam and on opposite sides of the watertight construction. A galler K extends transversely through the base the watertight construction, and suitable branch pipes shown in dotted lines are made to extend from the perforated pipes h and 72. into the gallery K. If a settling of the watertight construction toward the right causes leakage at the left side of Figure 8, the elastic layer is" will become compressed while the elastic layer is will become loose, and in spite of its elasticity it may form cracks. The leakage of water into the layer is will find its way into the pipe 7:. and thence into the gallery whereby the leakage is detected. In such an event, hot air or steam is forced outwardly through the pipe branch shown in dotted lines, and in this way, the pipe 71, is heated and in turn heats the elastic tar material around it. This softening of the latter, in conjunction with the pressure from above, causes the cracks to fill themselves and thereby to sto the leakage. In a similar manner, an inclination of the dam toward the left may cause leakage in the layer is, and in such an event, heating of the pipe 72. will remedy the defect.

The gallery K is accessible from the chamber in which the piping and conduits, and their valves, are arranged, as seen in Figure 15.

lVhere the dam is mounted upon a very deep rock foundation as shown in Figure 9, a swinging of the dam, or inclination thereof in either direction, (due to shrinkage and the like) is made possible by means of a joint K mounted in a suitable socket within the rock foundation. The joint K is made of rein forced concrete and is similarly provided with the layers of elastic material in and k". The advantages of the construction of Figure 8 are therefore carried forward into the construction of Figure 9.

The elasticity of the concrete, at its narrowest portion (between the lower ends of the layers in and k) allows for swinging and adjustment despite the fact that the construction is sunk into deep rock. The rein-.

forcement rods take up the necessary stresses. A non-rusting plate 7' is preferably provided on the water side, as seen in Figure 9 so as to prevent as much as possible a passage of water into the layer is.

One of the features of my invention lies in providing for drainage of water which may find its way into the dam material on the downstream side. A layer of drainage material R (Figure 4) or R (Figure is arranged adjacent to the innermost wall of the watertight construction. At the base of the construction, a transverse gallery Y is provided, and from this gallery a number of passages Y establish communication with the layer B (see Figures 8 and 9)., Any water which may have leaked through that part of the dam which is exposed to air, or which may have leaked even through the dam from the upstream side, is enabled to flow downwardly through the stone drainage layer R into the allery Y, and this water is then led off into the main outlet as shown in F igures 15 and 16, thence in a downstream direction away from the dam.

In Figure 12 I have shown an improvement relating to the sectional construction illustrated in Figure 7. The reason for the provision of sections is to enable expansion and contraction, and in Figure 12 an expansion joint is shown which consists of a smooth plate G and by complementary plates E and E. By the employment of two plates E and G on the upstream side, the expansibility of the joint is retained and an added protection is provided against the leakage of water from the basin through the expansion joint.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- -1. In a dam construction, the combination with a dam body composed of material penetrable by water, of a watertight construction which comprises a series of spaced substantially parallel walls extending across the entire width of the dam body, said walls including two upstream walls of substantially equal height, the other walls successively decreasing in height; said walls providing a set of watertight spaces adapted to be filled partially with water and partially with air to permit rise of water level in a space without overflow into adjacent spaces, means for sealing said spaces at the tops thereof, and means for establishing communication between said spaces and the atmosphere.

2. In a dam construction, the combination with a dam body composed of material pene trable by water, of a watertight construction which comprises a series of spaced substantially parallel walls extending across the entire width of the dam body, said walls including two upstream walls of substantially equal height, the other walls successively decreasing in height; said wallsproviding a set of watertight spaces adapted to receive water at predetermined levels, means for sealing said spaces at the tops thereof, and means for establishing communication between said spaces and the atmosphere; said last-named means comprising an air duct leading from the top of each space upwardly through the upper portion of the preceding space.

3. In a. dam construction, the combination with a dam body of material penetrable by water, of a watertight construction composed of a set of spaced parallel walls extending across thewidth of the-da body, a-gallery extending acrosswthe damj through the base thereof, a layer of elastic normally solid softenab le material on each side of the watertight construction at; the base of-the latter, and means for softening "said layers through said gallery; i i 1 I 4. In a dain' construction, the combination with adambody of material penetrableby water, of a .-watertight construction composed of a set of spaced parallel walls extending across the width of the dam body, a gallery extending across the dam through the base thereof, a layer of elastic normally solid softenable material on each side of the watertight construction at the base of the latter, and means for softening said layers through said gallery, said last-named means comprising a perforated pipe embedded in said elastic material, and a conduit extending from said gallery to said perforated pipe.

5. In a dam construction, the combination with a dam body of material penetrable by water, of a watertight construction consisting of a set of spaced parallel walls extending across the width of the dam body, and an adjustable base for said construction, said base comprising a downwardly extending concrete joint, said joint being provided with downwardly converging recesses defining a, relatively narrow and elastic portion between them.

6. In a dam construction, the combination with a dam body of material penetrable by water, of a watertight construction consisting of a set of spaced parallel walls extending across the width, of the dam body, and an adjustable base for said construction,said base comprising a downwardly extending concrete joint, said joint being provided with downwardly converging recesses defining a relatively narrow and elastic portion between them, and an elastic normally hard yet softenable material within said recesses.

7. In a dam construction, the combination with a dam body of material penetrable by water, of a watertight construction consisting of a set of spaced parallel walls extending across the width of the dam body, and an adjustable base for said construction, said i base comprising a downwardly, extending concrete joint, said joint being provided with downwardly converging recessesdefining a relatively narrow and elastic portion between them, an elastic normally hard yet softenable material within said recesses, and means for softening said last-mentioned material.

8. In a dam construction, the combination with a dam body composed of material penetrable by water, of a watertight construction which comprises a series of spaced substan-' tially parallel walls extending across the entire width of the dam body, said watertight construction comprising a set of adjacent sections separated by vertical spaces,

and an expansion joint in each of said spaces, said joint consisting of two superposed U- shaped watertight plates, on the water side of the vertical space and a single U-shaped plate on the air side of the vertical space, said three U-shaped plates having their sides connected to the edges of the adjacent divisions of the watertight construction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH KRACMER. 

